When Marshal Guarnaccia, a Florentine policeman, uncovers the identity of a strangled, naked woman found floating in the river, he begins to unravel a tale of international intrigue and personal betrayal

The police in Florence, Italy investigate a particularly puzzling case of kidnapping in which no ransom note is sent

Summoned by the elderly Signor Giusti to investigate noises in a neighboring apartment, Marshal Guarnaccia discovers a dying Dutchman and is plunged into a mystery from the past

It is just before Christmas and the marshal wants to go South to spend the holiday with his wife and family, but first he must recover from the flu (which has left the Florentine caribinieri short-handed) and also solve a murder. A seemingly respectable retired Englishman, living in a flat on the Via Maggio near the Santa Trinita bridge, was shot in the back during the night. He was well-connected and Scotland Yard has despatched two officers to "assist" the Italians in solving the crime. But it is the marshal, a quiet observer, not an intellectual, who manages to figure out what happened, and why.

A lonely young girl living on a remote farm with her work obsessed-parents cares for an old and battered wooden horse with such devotion that it comes to life.

Praise for the Marshal Guarnaccia series: "It takes a writer as good as Magdalen Nabb to remind us how subtle the art of the mystery can be. . . . Nabb has Simenon's knack."-The New York Times Book Review "Nabb's uncanny portrayal of Florence, its pace, scents, sounds, the rhythm of its language . . . is so vivid."-The Boston Globe "If you didn't make it to Florence this summer, don't despair. It was probably too crowded anyway-and there's a new Marshal Guarnaccia investigation to keep you abreast of the sights, smells, tastes, and traffic problems of that great Italian city."-Chicago Tribune "There is no other series quite like the Guarnaccia stories . . . in their moody charms. . . . His tender heart casts a wide net; people trust him, talk to him, seem to feel he is more prescient than he knows he is. The result is a narrative in which the marshal serves as a mirror to the world around him."-The Washington Post Book World "Strongly recommended for readers who like sophisticated, literate mysteries in foreign settings."-Library Journal The body of a woman has been found half-submerged in an ornamental fish pond high up in Florence's Boboli gardens. At first, the woman cannot be identified; only her skull remains. The marshal must use her clothing and a shoe to trace her. She turns out to be a young Japanese woman apprenticed to one of Florence's legendary custom shoemakers, crotchety old Peruzzi. Could he have killed his protégé? Or did jealousy drive his other apprentice to murder? The neighbors have seen Akiko with a lover-a brilliant young carabinieri-who has disappeared. Has he fled to avoid arrest? The marshal must go to Rome to complete his investigation. When he returns to Florence he can identify the killer, but can he bring him to justice?

Josie Smith is the irrepressible little girl who's been on Granada TV in several series. She's the one who's jealous of her best friend Eileen (who always gets whatever she wants). She's also the one who gets into trouble all the time, but generally seems to come up smelling of roses! In this book Josie Smith saves up for a birthday present, runs away from home and steals a ginger cat. (view table of contents)

Product Description: Josie Smith is the irrepressible little girl who's been on Granada TV in several series. She's the one who's jealous of her best friend Eileen (who always gets whatever she wants). She's also the one who gets into trouble all the time, but generally seems to come up smelling of roses! In this book Josie Smith saves up for a birthday present, runs away from home and steals a ginger cat...read more

Follows the amusing adventures of Josie and her best friend Eileen as they celebrate their birthdays, have a sleepover, and participate in a wedding.

Josie Smith is the irrespressible little girl who's been on Granada TV in several series. She's the one who's jealous of her best friend Eileen (who always gets whatever she wants). She's also the one who gets into trouble all the time, but generally seems to come up smelling of roses! This Christmas title sees Josie making an angel for the school crib -- then losing it; winning a prize and waiting up all night for Father Christmas. (view table of contents)

Spirited Josie has adventures and misadventures at school, where she befriends a foreign student and takes part in the class play

Six-year-old Josie's day at the beach with Mom and Gran is highlighted by a donkey ride, making a dog friend, and getting lost

This is a second book of stories about Josie Smith and describes her day trip to the seaside with her mum and gran. She rides a donkey, meets a dog, makes a new friend and brings back a windmill for her best friend.

Product Description: The fouth and final new Josie Smith seasonal title, featuring the irresistable young heroine. Josie Smith has already starred in several books and her own TV show for Granada television. She's the child who's always at loggerheads with her best-friend Eileen, is constantly in trouble, yet invariable comes up smelling of roses...read more (view table of contents, read Amazon.com's description)

(view table of contents)

The second of the new Josie Smith seasonal titles -- three stories in one book featuring this irresistable young lady. The second book in the new Josie Smith series which sees Josie through the seasons of the year. Josie Smith in Spring contains three new stories in which we see Josie planting seeds, getting mud on a dress her mum is making and making new friends...Josie Smith has already starred in several books and her own TV show for Granada television. She's the child who's always at loggerheads with her best-friend Eileen, is constantly in trouble, yet invariable comes up smelling of roses. Young fans familiar with the seven existing Josie Smith titles, can look forward to reading four more, set around the seasons of the year.

The third of the new Josie Smith seasonal titles in about this irresistable young lady! Josie Smith has already starred in several books and her own TV show for Granada television. She's the child who's always at loggerheads with her best-friend Eileen, is constantly in trouble, yet invariable comes up smelling of roses. Young fans familiar with the seven existing Josie Smith titles, can look forward to reading four more, set around the seasons of the year. As with all the other Josie Smith titles, Josie Smith in Winter contains three new stories Josie Smith in the Rain; Ginger Gets Lost and Josie Smith in the Snow. The publishing programme for the Josie Smith seasonal books are: Josie Smith in Winter October 99 Josie Smith in Spring January 00 Josie Smith in Summer April 00 Josie Smith in Autumn June 00 The backlist Josie Smith titles will be re-issued with a new cover look and inside illustrations to match the new Josie Smith four seasons titles!

While teaching his wife to drive, Marshal Guarnaccia encounters a half-naked madwoman named Clementina, who is later murdered, and he becomes involved in solving the mystery of her death

Marshal Guarnacci, the kindly, perceptive Italian cop, investigates the murder of a beautiful young Swiss woman in a small village

Summoned to the Villa Torrini to investigate the curious death of British expatriate author Celia Forbes, who has drowned in six inches of bathwater, Marshal Guarnaccia finds a drunken, grief-stricken husband and a web of dark secrets and betrayal.

Summoned to investigate an apparent suicide at the ancestral home of one of the oldest families in Florence, Marshal Guarnaccia is convinced that there has been foul play